10 Best Kids Fishing Poles In 2019

Getting a child to fish can be a hard sell. To be good at fishing requires patience and experience both of which are in precious little supply when you’re young, but there’s no better time to learn than the present.

Getting them fishing can be incredibly rewarding for both you and your child can be a special experience, so getting them the best kids fishing pole is a wonderful way to spark their interest and getting them casting a line into the water.

In order to find the best kids fishing rod, we have created a buying guide to guide you through the process as well as looking at the kids fishing pole reviews to come up with a list of the best items on the market. Once you’ve read this guide you’ll know exactly what to get so you can start creating those special memories.

Shakespeare Youth Fishing Kits

One great way to get kids into fishing is to give them their own unique rod which has a pattern from their favorite film. These brilliant rods from Shakespeare come in a wide variety of different designs from Frozen to Moana and from Barbie to Disney Princess’ so you’re sure to find something they love.

This is an all-in-one road and reel with the line and features a round knob, thumb button extension and a finger guard making the whole rod safe and easy to use at all times.

There is an on/off instant anti-reverse bearing included and the rod also features a machine ported anodized aluminum braid spool as well as an EVA handle knob. These simplicity and safety features, along with the great design, make this a perfect choice.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

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EDITORS CHOICE

Lanaak Kids Fishing Pole and Tackle Box

If your child is showing a keen interest in fishing then getting them a whole set could be the next great to step to take and this is a brilliant product from Lanaak which includes a telescopic fishing pole, spin cast reel, full tackle box and a minnow net as well to go with it. It also has a beginner’s guide and a carry case as well.

The rod itself is very easy to cast as it comes with a push-button design and the reel arrives pre-spooled with no assembly required. The tackle box includes bobbers, hooks, split sinkers, swivels, jig heads, worms as well a crank bait lure so you really do get everything you need to get started.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

Whole startup kit

Full tackle box

Easy to cast rod

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BEST VALUE

Plusinno Kids Fishing Pole

This is another great set, this time from Plusinno but this has a rod that comes in a variety of different colors so your child will be able to feel more involved by picking their favorite color. It also comes in a couple of different sizes as well so there are plenty of options.

The telescopic rod will have your kids fishing in no time. It’s slightly more advanced than other reel options but is still easy to use. The rod comes with a tackle box which has everything that you need to get started and give your child their best chance of making a catch.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

Different colors available

Telescopic rod

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Kids Fishing Pole Rod and Reel Combo Spincast Rod with Tackle Box

Telescopic rods make them easy to store and use for kids and this is another great example and is available in colors of either blue or red. This is another product too which comes with everything that you need to be able to start your fishing adventure and is designed for children four years or older.

It has a one button usage on the reel to make it as easy as possible and the tackle box comes with everything you need such as bobbers, hooks, lures and sinkers as well as others. They also offer full refunds on the product too if you’re not happy with it.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

Different color options

Telescopic rod

Full tackle box

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Shakespeare Youth Ugly Stik GX2 2-Piece Fishing Rod

If you’re looking at these fishing poles and thinking they are a little too basic for your kid's development level then this rod is the next step and has a lot more features associated with a full sized rod. The EVA grips on this rod are lightweight and perfect for those who have smaller hands.

It has a machined aluminum spool as well as one ball bearing to ensure that you have a smooth operation of the rod. It’s made from graphite and fiberglass which adds to its durability while adding that extra level of sensitivity.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

A more advanced youth rod

Machined aluminum spool

EVA grips designed for small hands

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Zebco Splash Boy’s 402 Spin Cast Reel

The product from Zebco comes in a fun design which is sure to be loved by your kid and comes with a simple but effective reel which is easy to use, even for the most novice of users so this is great for those looking to go fishing for the first time.

The soft grips make it very easy to handle and this product is sure to keep your children out on the water and enjoying their fishing experience until they’re ready to move onto the next rod size up from this.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

Simple feel use

Bright and colorful design

Soft grip handle

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YONGZHI Kids Fishing Pole with Spinning Reels

This huge set from Yongzhi gives you everything you need in order to start a lifelong love of fishing and it is a superb set that is sure to see your child get engaged with the experience. It comes in two different color options as blue and gold are available.

It is made from carbon fiber mixed in with fiberglass which gives it a great level of elasticity. The telescopic rod stretched out to 5.2 feet before collapsing back to a 14 inch length. It can be used and is perfect for kids as it presents a challenge without being too difficult.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

Available in blue or gold

Changeable handle

Made from carbon fiber and fiberglass

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Kid Casters Jimmy Houston Fishing Kits

This is the most basic type of fishing pole you could buy but one which provides a perfect entry for your child to the world as fishing as it comes with a plastic hook which will help them to be able to learn casting action and practice with training lures.

This, however, is a real fishing pole and once the basics have been learned then you can step up and attach a real lure onto the end of the rod and easily be able to catch fish. This rod is perfect for teaching them their technique and getting them their first catch before they move on up.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

Training rod

Plastic hook

Can be used as a real rod

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Kid Casters Standard No Tangle Telescopics

This is another great product to get your kids engaged in fishing and this particular pole comes in designs of either Hello Kitty or Paw Patrol which is a great way to get your kids excited. The rod is 17 inches in length and then will extend out to 29 inches.

The set includes one safety hook as well as a casting plug and a snap swivel. This is a good starter rod for those kids who haven’t ever really thought about fishing as it’s a basic model which can start them on a journey to becoming a keen angler.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

Hello Kitty or Paw Patrol design

Includes hook, plug and swivel

Spin cast reel

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IEBIYO Fishing Pole for Kids

This is a more professional looking fishing pole from Iebiyo which has a collapsed length of 35cm but can extend out to 1.5 meters. It has a soft plastic handle which is ergonomically designed making it very easy to use with a spinning fishing reel which is very easy to use.

The spincast fishing reel comes with a fishing line and the whole product comes in a fishing bag which has a handle so it is very easy to transport. Overall this fishing pole has all the features need it to make it an ideal introduction into a more realistic way of fishing.

What Makes This Kids Fishing Pole Stand Out

Collapsible rod

Soft rubber handle

Portable carry bag

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How To Choose The Best Kid Fishing Pole – Buying Guide

Weight

Of course a lot about this guide comes down to how old your children are and how experienced they are at fishing and whether they have had a small amount of fishing in the past or just doing it for the first time. Here we have a mixture of entry level poles as well as rods which are a little more sophisticated.

There are also a mixture of weights too and you want to ensure that it’s not going to be easy for your child to handle as obviously handling a rod is a lot more than the ability to be able to lift it up, you need to be able to cast if confidently into the water with one hand and have enough control of it to do it without training your arms.

Trying to find this point with children is obviously difficult because you don’t know precisely how strong they are but getting a rod that is too heavy not only adds to the danger level as they won’t be able to cast the lure correctly but it is also much more likely to put them off and decrease their enjoyment levels, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Length

Length naturally links in with weight as a lot of the same principles apply in that if you get it wrong then the child will find fishing a lot more difficult and the safety levels will start to decrease as well if they start finding it harder to cast the line.

Some of these poles are very short in length which is obviously not ideal when it comes to fishing in the most effective way but it might be the best thing for your child at this stage of their development. As they get older and more experienced they will be able to move up on to better and bigger rods.

Also with length is the factor of how telescopic the rod is. Fishing rods are notoriously difficult to handle at their full size so being able to reduce that is important. Some do this a lot better than others though as some of these products have vast distances between their full length and their retracted one. One that retracts back to a smaller size will be easier to handle for your child.

Ease Of Use

There are a few aspects of a rod and reel that can take adults a long time to master, so inexperienced kids need to have life a bit easier when they are starting out. The engineering of a rod is a wonderful thing but children are a lot less likely to care or understand exactly how they work so the moving parts of a child’s rod are kept down to a minimum.

One of the key features to look for is a rod that has a line that is unlikely to get tangled when you are trying to fish. This is something that adult anglers can struggle with and it can be frustrating so having a more simple system is a good way to avoid this.

We see other key features being used too such as having a one-button push reel which strips back the mechanics of a reel down to their basics. While some children will be more interested than others, the likelihood is that your child is just interested in getting a fish at the end of their line and don’t care much about anything else.

In this list we have a range of rods which are all in various stages of expertise and you’ll know which one your child will be able to figure out as the rods become harder to use as they get more advanced. It’s always important to point out though that anyone, and not just children, get turned off something quickly if they find it too difficult.

Handle

The importance of the handle is one of the most underestimated parts of a rod as you can take it for granted how important it is to how comfortable the rod is and how easy it is to hold. Not only does a child’s fishing rod need to be designed for smaller hands but it also needs to not hurt their hands after a small amount of use.

One of the best ways to ensure this is to have an EVA foam handle as this is a substance that is soft to touch but is very strong so it’s not going to break easily. Other options can be good too such as a rubber handle as this will be easier to touch as well.

The importance of a handle grows with the length of the rod. A shorter rod will be much easier to use so there will be fewer demands on your hands whereas a longer rod will add a lot more stress so if you’re looking to get a rod of any decent length then you need to make sure that the handle is very comfortable to use.

Durability

Durability is at the heart of the reasons to buy or not buy a product and you want to ensure that it’s well-made. Children, of course, can be quite heavy-handed so rods can easily be broken if they are not a high enough quality. The poles that we have mentioned here have a range of various levels but the more advanced ones are the type that simply have to be well-made.

Then it comes to fishing rods, fiberglass and graphite are commonly used materials due to their level of strength and durability with carbon fiber being the next level up in terms of quality. If you want your children’s rod to last for a long time then you want to ensure that it’s being made out of the best materials you can possibly get.

Portability

Having a fishing rod that is easy to carry is also important as fishing rods can be notoriously difficult to handle so having one which can fold down to a small size is ideal and also one that comes with a carry case can be useful as well. You don’t want a product that is going to be too difficult to transport otherwise this could take away from the fun that your children are meant to be having.

FAQs

Q: What Is The Difference Between Rod and Pole?

A: Not a lot, and a lot of people use the term interchangeably as I have done here but there is a technical difference between the two. A pole is essentially fishing with a fixed amount of line that is at the end of a pole.

This term comes from those days of just tying a line to the end of a bamboo stick and throwing it into the water. A rod is a more sophisticated option but these days a pole can just refer to something that is just a simplified version of a rod. As both terms are used loosely, it’s nothing to be too bothered about.

Q: Should I Get A Combo Of Rod And Reel Or Separate Rod And Reel For My Child?

A: The answer to this question comes down to how comfortable your child is with a fishing rod and how much experience they have. If they are very young and doing it for the first time then getting a combo would probably be a good idea as it’s a more simple option but as they get a little bit more advanced or a little bit older then getting them separately would be a great option.

Q: Are Kids Fishing Poles Safe For Use?

A: As you have seen here there is a wide range of options available for a wide range of different abilities. These different options aren’t just for different levels of ability but they also offer different levels of safety as well.

You’re the best judge of how your child can be trusted with a more complex reel or lures but all the products we have reviewed here are all quality products and as safe as can be. Fishing, as with any activity, comes with its dangers so you always need to be vigilant to safety, but these rods will give you all the safety that you need.

Q: Can A Fish Pull The Child In The Water?

A: This is something that you really don’t have to worry about as the types of rods that they will be using, lures they’ll be throwing and the body of water that they’ll be on means that it’s not as if they’ll be hooking a huge tuna at the end of the line.

A child is much more likely to let go of their rod before any trouble. If they are struggling though, then it’s simple enough just to go and help them out or cut the line so you never have to worry about them going into the water. After a little bit of experience your child will quickly learn how to react when a fish is at the end of their line but until they do, it’s not too dangerous and you’ll always be there to help them out.

Q: How Strong Are Kids Fishing Rods?

A: This can depend on what level rod you are buying but naturally the more advanced you get, the stronger they are going to be. We have reviewed fishing rods here which are essentially just smaller versions of a genuine adult model and are made out of the same materials, so they are going to be incredibly strong.

The more basic entry models that we have reviewed here won’t have quite the same level of strength but this isn’t required as they won’t be catching fish of any significant size. All the products that we have reviewed here are more than strong enough to be safe and solid when they are in your child’s hands so you don’t have to worry about them breaking.

Globo Surf Overview

Getting your child out to the water and getting them engaged in the fishing experience can make for brilliant days but finding good fishing poles for kids can be a challenge, as trying to work out their level of ability and strength can be difficult to judge. Fishing rods for kids come in a wide range of different materials and levels of difficulty so a lot of choosing the best little kids fishing pole comes down to your judgment of where they are on their stage of development.

There are many great water activities out there for children and while they could love being on a kayak or just learning how to swim, there is something special about the bonding experience that can be made from being out on the water and learning how to fish. In order to get to that going though, selecting the children’s fishing pole that most suits them will keep them engaged and interested.

Finding the right youth fishing pole then involves ensuring that the weight and length of the fishing rod aren’t too much for them to handle and that the reel is going to be simple enough for them to use. After that you’ll want to be making sure that the handle of the fishing rod is easy to use and the rod is well—made and easy to carry. Once you have checked off all of these points, then you’ll be ready to get the top rated kids fishing rod for your child.

Hopefully this buying guide has given you all of the information you need to head out there and buy your child a fishing rod with confidence. Once you put the right fishing rod in their hands then you should be able to start your adventures on the water and start your child on a journey into falling in love with fishing.

My name is David Hamburg. I am an avid water sports fan who enjoys paddle boarding, surfing, scuba diving, and kite surfing. Anything with a board or chance I can get in the water I love! I am such a big fan I decided to start this website to review all my favorite products and some others. Hope you enjoy!